The investigation into the tragic deaths of three friends in Kansas City, who were found frozen in their backyard over a year ago, has finally reached a conclusion. The victims, Ricky Johnson Jr., 38, David Harrington, 37, and Clayton McGeeney, 36, died due to a lethal combination of fentanyl and cocaine, as confirmed by the authorities. The three friends were last seen alive at the residence of Jordan Willis, 39, where they had gathered to watch a Kansas City Chiefs football game on January 7, 2024.
Two days following the game, the bodies of the three men were discovered in the backyard of Willis' home. Willis, who was inside the house at the time, claimed to have been oblivious to the presence of the bodies outside. This claim led to a flurry of speculation and theories about the circumstances leading to the deaths, as the families and friends of the deceased sought answers.
The Kansas City police have now brought charges against Willis and his alleged drug dealer, Ivory Carson, 42, for involuntary manslaughter. Both men were arrested on Wednesday afternoon. The charges are a result of the discovery of bags of fentanyl and cocaine in Willis' home, which were linked to the deaths of the three friends.
Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd underscored the dangers of street drugs in a statement on Wednesday. He also cautioned that those who supply such drugs can and will be held accountable when overdoses occur. Forensic evidence showed that Willis' DNA was predominantly found on the cocaine bag, while Carson's DNA was significantly present on the fentanyl bag.
Text messages exchanged between Carson and Harrington indicated that Carson had sold drugs to the group, a claim he later confessed to. Willis, who works as an HIV researcher, insisted that he had retired early on the night of the deaths and was unaware of the commotion outside due to sleeping with headphones on and a fan running.
Despite the charges, Willis' attorney, John Picerno, maintains that his client did not buy or provide the drugs that resulted in the deaths of his friends. He expressed eagerness for a jury to hear all the evidence in the case.
